SDN Doesn't Mean Cheaper Networking

The most common prediction about SDN is that networking will get cheaper. It won't. Here's why.

The most common prediction about SDN is that networking will get cheaper. In fact, IT will spend the same as it always has on networking, but the money will be allocated in different ways. Meanwhile, market pressures will force traditional vendors such as Cisco to adopt new revenue models.

Let's start with network hardware. I predict network hardware will get cheaper because it must be replaced and upgraded more often in the years ahead.

Today, a network device has a lifespan of at least five years; in many cases, it may be up to 10 years before it is considered for replacement. However, technology developments will speed up hardware refreshes; the next generation of networking is likely to be replaced every three years as the drive into 10-GbE ports will soon be followed by 40-GbE and 100-GbE interfaces.

We'll also see new silicon with lower power consumption, support for overlay networking and increased forwarding performance compel faster product churn.

It's reasonable to expect unit prices to fall as customers rapidly cycle out network assets in the same way that server assets are removed to gain new features or functions. However, while unit prices drop, overall network spending will remain the same because of the need to replace hardware more often.

Another way hardware costs could be lowered is by changing vendor practices around expensive optical and copper interface modules. A significant percentage (often more than 50% ) of the standing cost of network devices is largely due to these modules, which deliver little customer value. The future of networking is services, not connectivity.

It's not necessary for "vendor supported" SFP modules to cost in excess of $300 per unit--even less so to enforce this in software. If the standard is badly written that there are reliability or production problems, then vendors should kick the IEEE into action to produce better standards that are resistant to low-quality manufacturing and prevent unreliable manufacturers from making poor copies.

It is beyond the scope of this article to explain the foolish choices made by the IEEE during the standards process that have resulted in extortionate pricing for what could be low-cost items.

SDN could get cheaper if there was a concerted effort from vendors and customers to drive new standards with reasonable technology choices for cheaper interface modules. Shipping SFP modules adds zero value to customer features or functions and customers resent paying for them.

Off-Brands Won't Flourish

Some make the argument that unbranded hardware will erode the market for premium-priced equipment. I don't think so. There's a lot of inexpensive networking equipment available today from vendors like Netgear and D-Link, including low-cost chassis switches. Yet the majority of customer continue to buy branded hardware for quality and assurance reasons.

Why would SDN change this purchasing practice ? The underlying reasons for purchasing branded or known hardware--customers want a trusted brand and partner in their data centers--aren't changed by SDN.

Niche use cases from mega-scale data centers simply aren't relevant to enterprises or service providers. Google and Facebook purchase low-cost network equipment direct from the manufacturer, but they also perform extensive testing to prove the hardware is viable and fit for purpose.

There is identifiable risk that low-cost products may have higher failure rates, poor quality software or other serious operational issues. While the mega-scale companies have software platforms designed to handle failure easily, enterprises are not experienced in handling these kinds of risks.

Cheaper, Simpler Software

The price of the network OS on the device is also likely to fall in the years ahead. Today, customers purchase a license for an integrated NOS that runs on the specific device. These NOSes often have thousands of features, functions and services that ultimately deliver network services.

However, a key value of current SDN platforms such as VMware NSX is that network services will be provided in a hypervisor or in a virtual machine.

Two factors should lead to lower prices. First, a software license today comes with the device that is intended to be used for at least five years. This timeline is factored into the customer value proposition (that is, the purchase price). As customers rotate hardware faster, the software license has less value over the life of the device, which will lead to price pressures on suppliers.

Second, market competition for cheaper NOSes is being introduced by startups. For instance, Cumulus Networks and Big Switch Networks have introduced NOSes that operate independent of the network hardware. ODM suppliers are already shipping small numbers of network switches that support these open NOS environments.

These startups license their software on a recurrent revenue model, and any purchase has a serious impact on the short-term revenue of incumbent vendors. This should drive lower prices on existing equipment.

Greg has nearly 30 years of experience as an IT infrastructure engineer and has been focused on data networking for about 20, including 12 years as Cisco CCIE. He has worked in Asia and Europe as a network engineer and architect for a wide range of large and small firms in ... View Full Bio

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